Above

33

Estelle
I awake from a dreamless sleep alone in the car. Everyone was around a campfire outside, engrossed in conversation.
I pop open the car door and climb out.
"Morning." Luca calls, rubbing the stubble he's allowed to grow on his jaw.
I wave, walking to sit next to him.
"How late were you out?" He asks.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Titanios just majorly chewed Leeciy out for leaving, I assumed you went with." He says, playing with a handful of rocks.
"Not too late, we just went into the town." I shrug.
Luca nods, picking a pink rock out of the bunch, pocketing it.
"How'd you sleep?" I ask.
"I didn't, I kept thinking about Fizz." He says.
I rub his back. "Where are Leeciy and Titanios anyway?"
"Titanios took Leeciy out to teach him a lesson." Luca says. "They're around."
"A lesson?" I ask.
"It was just after he scolded him." Luca says.
"We have to go find them." I say, standing up. "Where are they?"
Luca is taken aback by my sudden determination, but he hops up, eager to help. "Follow me."
***
They weren't too far outside camp, but far enough so we couldn't hear or see anything.
Titanios stands, looking at Leeciy who was standing against a tree, back to us.
"Let's just watch, before we go crazy." Luca says, ducking behind a bush.
Titanios talks, a scowl on his face, before lifting his cane above his head, bringing it down on Leeciy.
Luca jumps up, grabbing an arrow out of his quiver, holding it like a knife.
I stand, hurrying to the scene.
Leeciy was slumped against the tree, hanging onto consciousness.
I kneel in front of Leeciy, cupping his cheek. "Leeciy?"
Titanios brings down his cane once again.
I hold my hand out, the suprisingly sharp cane cuts down the length of it. I wince, ignoring it, focusing on Leeciy.
"Estelle?" He replies. "What are you doing here?"
"Helping." I reply, trying to help him up.
He pulls away from all my attempts. "I'm okay."
"No, you're not." I say. "I'm helping, let me help." I turn to see Luca, already pinned Titanios against a different tree, his arrow through his clothes.
Luca runs to help me get Leeciy to his feet. "Get him to a car, go to a public pool, they have the best first aid kits."
"I'm okay." Leeciy mumbles.
Luca grins. "You wish, bud."
***
With some sneaking, Leeciy and I get to the family bathroom, the door locked, the first aid kit on the counter.
I sat on the counter, since Leeciy's eight inches taller than me, and Leeciy stands between my thighs, his palms flat on both, holding him up.
He was more conscious now, but at some points, I could see him slipping.
I grab a paper towel, wad it up, and douse it with hydrogen peroxide. "This'll hurt."
"I know." He says.
I press the wet towel to the wound on his cheekbone.
He winces, trying to move his face.
"Stay still." I move my other hand to hold his head in place.
He grunts, rolling his eyes.
"What did he say to you?" I ask. "When he yelled at you?"
"He talked about how I'm so much less than you, and I shouldn't put you in danger, because if you got hurt, he'd hurt me worse."
I grab another paper towel and dab the cut on the bridge of his nose. "Why didn't you fight back?"
He shrugs.
I pull the peroxide-soaked towel away from his face, lightly pressing it to the cut on his forehead.
"Are you mad?" He asks, his voice as vulnerable and innocent as a injured child.
I nod. "Not at you, you didn't do anything wrong." I reach over and grab the bandages from the kit. "Do you want mermaid or dinosaur bandaids?"
"Dinosaur." He answers.
I grab a handful of dinosaur bandages, applying them to the cuts on his forehead and nose, and two on the cut on his cheek. "Any wounds anywhere else?" I ask.
He nods. "He got me pretty good on my ribs."
I nod, helping him take his off his shirt.
The gash across his ribs was oozing black blood, but it wasn't too deep.
I grab the hydrogen peroxide paper towel, pressing it to the wound, before grabbing another paper towel, soaking it with water, pressing it to the wound as well. I unwrap a few dinosaur bandages and stick them across the gash.
"Penny for your thoughts?" He asks, watching me fondly as I sit up.
I shrug, cradling my hand. "My hand hurts."
He gingerly grabs it, wrapping his nimble fingers around my wrist, baring my hand to him. "He got you, too."
"Oh yeah, I nearly forgot."
He looks at it. "My turn to take care of you."
I giggle, rolling my eyes.
He presses the hydrogen peroxide soaked paper towel against it.
I jump, tugging my hand away. "That stings."
"Payback." He smirks, grabbing my hand again, holding it under the sink, rinsing it out. "Mermaid or dinosaur?"
"Suprise me." I say.
He grabs a mermaid bandage and a dinosaur bandage. "I'll switch it up."
I smile as he applies them, his tongue poked out in concentration.
"Done." He smiles, looking up to meet my gaze.
We sit in silence for a bit, just looking at eachother.
I break the silence. "Last night was fun."
He hums in agreement, playing with my fingers.
"I'm sorry that this happened to you." I sigh, placing my free hand on his ribcage.
"Don't apologize, it wasn't your fault." He smiles, patting my thigh twice.
"But I suggested it, and you took the biggest hit." I whine.
He sighs. "I know I took the biggest hit, but I'd do it all again to see you as happy as you were last night."
I blush, looking down at the granite counter.
He cups my cheek, making me look up at him. "Can I ask you a question?"
I nod.
"Can I kiss you?"